Herewini Sets Record In ‘Rugby’s Suicide Seat’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31178, 30 September 1966, Page 15

Herewini Sets Record In ‘Rugby’s Suicide Seat’

(By

I. J. D. HALL)

. The first five-eighths position has so often been the “suicide seat” in New Zealand Rugby that the performance of M. A. Herewini in playing in all four tests against the British Lions was almost as' meritorious as the All Blacks winning a test series 4-0 for the first time.

The faith that the All Black selectors showed in Herewini allowed him to create a record that had escaped the great inside backs who have played tests in New Zealand and toured overseas with All Black teams.

No other New Zealand first five-eighths has played in all four tests in a series and no player on a major overseas tour has been selected for the position in all internationals. There have been occasions when a player has stayed at first five-eighths in a threetest series. D. Trevathan did it in 1937 against the Springboks: T. N. Wolfe had all three tests against France in 1961 and several players, including J. R. McCullough and P. H. Murdoch, have played three tests in a four-test series. FLfclD OVERSEAS On overseas tours to Britain and South Africa the position has been just as fluid. In 1928, L. M. Johnson had three tests against the Springboks: J. C. Kearney had three in 1949, but even notable players such as N. P. McGregor and M. F. Nicholls did not manage to play through a full international series.

Since the war the record number of consecutive appearances at first five-eighths for the All Blacks is six—by L. S. Haig when he played three tests against the 1950 Lions and three against Australia in 1951. P. H. Murdoch has had five —three against the 1964 Australians and two against the Springboks before he was supplanted by Herewini.

Since 1959 there have been 16 changes in the first fiveeighths position and the comment by B. A. Watt, that his modest claim to fame was that he had been dropped and recalled more times than any other first five-eighths, is a succinct summary of the situation.

The chopping and changing of the first five-eighths can be expalined mainly by the different outlooks of different selectors.

In 1959, R. H. Brown, then a gifted attacking player, was played in the first test. For the next three the dependable McCullough was first choice. After some dour stuff in South Africa in 1960 there was a change of selectors and the new men, plumping for

attacking play in the backs, brought in T. N. Wolfe for the tests against France. He had an auspicious start in his first test; played extremely well in the third, which New Zealand won, 32-3: but next season he had to share the berth with Herewini and Watt and has not been chosen as a first fiveeighths for New Zealand since 1962. Watt and Herewini alternated regularly in the seven internationals in 1963-64

when their steady game was in demand, but suddenly there was a change in outlook. A passing and running player, P. H. Murdoch, played five tests in succession but ; the All Blacks’ defeat in the third test in 1965 by the Springboks brought about his ; omission for the vital fourth test and the return of Here- ’ wini to use his tactical kick- ! ing to supplement the power ' play of the All Black pack. The continued choice of Herewini this season reflects I the curious ambivalence of the All Black selectors; not . only this season but also in i previous years. I Selectors have expressed a

desire to play attacking RugI by in the backs and the choice of Wolfe and Murdoch in recent years supports this. But whenever All Black teams have not functioned well it is the running first five-eighths who is placed under the selectorial axe.

Herewini is a gifted attacking player. He is quick and agile, has a neat side step and a flair for the unorthodox —all admirable assets. But other players have had them and not been retained.

What Herewini also possesses—and this is the other face of New Zealand back play—is a deadly accurate boot and an ability to carry out a tactical kicking plan. In Herewini the selectors have, to a degree, found the two virtues they have been seeking: the first five-eighths who at a moment’s notice can change from a dangerous attacking player to a solid kicking five-eighths whose steadiness can win or save a match when more adventurous methods have failed.

Herewini’s abilities at present do hot quite provide the perfect amalgam: too often he kicks when the moment was opportune for the ball to be passed. But he is the nearest approach to what a generation of selectors have been seeking, and thus has made Rugby history.